‘Caregiving,’ a new documentary created with executive producer Bradley Cooper, highlights the challenges and triumphs of caregiving in America, according to the PBS website.
Award-winning actress Uzo Aduba (The Residence, Painkiller, Orange is the New Black) narrates the film, bringing her own experience as a caregiver for her mother to the project.
You can stream the documentary in its entirety on WellBeings.org, the PBS App and PBS.org.
The two-hour documentary is centered on the personal experiences of caregivers providing for loved ones. As the number of caregivers declines, and the number of individuals requiring care in our country increases, the challenges grow.
As per the documentary’s website, the burdens of caregiving can seem unbearable, regardless of resources. The makers of the film provide the following statistics:
- According to recent reports, it is estimated that between 53 million to 105.6 million U.S. adults provide unpaid caregiving for family and friends.
- An estimated 5.4 million children and adolescents in the U.S. are direct caregivers for family members.
- The value of the care provided by unpaid family caregivers across the U.S. was $600 billion in 2021, according to a 2023 AARP report.
- There are five million paid caregivers nationally in the U.S., as of 2023.
- Median annual earnings for direct care workers in the U.S. are $23,688.13, as of a 2023 report.
There are an estimated 53 million to 105.6 million U.S. adults providing unpaid caregiving for family or friends. Every one of them has a story that’s filled with sacrifice, love, and the pursuit of dignity in care.
The Well Beings “Caregiving” series premiered on June 24, 2025.
